Clarke to Lead Virginia DOC

Clarke to Lead Virginia DOC

(10/11/2010)

RICHMOND, Va. — Harold Clarke has been named as director of the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Clarke, who has served as a commissioner with Massachusetts’ corrections system since 2007. Clarke will oversee a system with 32,000 inmates in 44 prisons and more than 11,500 employees. Clarke succeeds Virginia DOC director Gene Johnson.

“I am just truly honored to be appointed by the governor as the next director of corrections in Virginia,” Clarke said in an interview. “Governor McDonnell truly understands that effective reentry of offenders back into the community creates public safety and is also cost-efficient.”

Clarke is a corrections industry veteran with 30 years experience that started as a counselor with Nebraska’s DOC, eventually rising to director.

He recently served a two year term as president of the American Correctional Association, where he helped lead the organization as it faced fiscal uncertainty during recessionary times and budget shortfalls.